Statistically, Lansing's boys soccer team dominated Sauquoit Valley in Saturday's Class C state quarterfinal at Herkimer County Community College. But for 68 minutes, the Section 4 champs had nothing to show for it.

Enter Langston Hopkins – again.

Last year's playoff hero was up to the task this year, too, as he scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the 69th minute.

"We're confident in our group," Lansing coach Benji Parkes said after his team held on to win 1-0. "We've been in these situations."

Hopkins scored the winner in the 2016 Section 4 title match and did the same in the ensuing state quarterfinal. The junior said his goal Saturday was just as sweet.

"We've been poised," Hopkins said. "We have the right attitude."

The No. 2 state-ranked Bobcats (18-2) have the right skills, too.

Lansing finished with a whopping 24-2 advantage in shots and an 8-2 edge in corner kicks against the Section 3 champs, ranked fourth in the state.

Until Hopkins scored, though, this one was a series of close calls.

"We had our chances in the beginning," Hopkins said.

The visitors forced a corner kick within seconds, then saw Nick Parkes shoot just wide from close range. Taylor Overton followed with a header on goal in the fourth minute to continue the Bobcats’ solid start.

A youthful Sauquoit Valley (15-4-1) team kept it scoreless for a long time.

"We played as well as we normally do," first-year SV coach Tyler Denton said.

Trevor Jones cleared a dangerous Lansing cross in the eighth minute, but the Bobcats kept pressing. Overton followed with a high shot in the 10th minute that just missed.

SV answered by earning a corner kick. This time it was Lansing's defense clearing the ball, and the offense took over quickly.

Lansing missed a great chance in the 19th minute as an SV misplay left the ball loose with an open goal. Jacob Worden cleared it to keep the score deadlocked at zero.

Hopkins had an even better chance in the 24th minute, but Ward forced a wide shot on a short breakaway down the right wing.

Ward, a sophomore, made three saves in the first eight minutes of the second half, turning away Hopkins once and Overton twice. He also watched a shot by sophomore Mason Edwards sail wide in the 54th minute.

SV co-captain Kevin Griffith had the next best chance, forcing Lansing goalie Jack Yahn to make a diving save in the 63rd minute.

Hopkins later took a cross from the right side and scored a no-doubter in the 69th minute.

"Right place, right time," Hopkins said of his latest clutch goal.

SV had one good chance in the last 11 minutes, on a deep throw-in from the right side that went a tad too long. Lansing controlled play the rest of the way to ensure a return trip to the state semifinals in Middletown.

"We're just confident in our group," Coach Parkes said of his team’s mindset in close games. "We've been in these situations. You rely on your seniors."

Seven seniors dotted a starting lineup for Lansing, which received solid play from underclassmen and wore down SV with its deep bench.

SV tried to stay upbeat afterward.

"It hurts, and there's pride," said Griffith, whose team won four games last season. "We battled. It was a great season. That's all that matters."

Lansing's state-semifinal opponent is Section 11's Pierson/Bridgehampton, a 3-1 winner over Section 9's S.S. Seward in the quarterfinals. They'll play at 4 p.m. this Saturday on Middletown's Turf Field, with the winner advancing to Sunday's title game at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on Middletown's Grass Field.

CLASS D

South Kortright 2, Poland 0

Stanley Anderson opened the scoring off a pass from Dawson Darling with 4:06 left in the first half, helping Section 4 champion South Kortright to a Class D state quarterfinal win at Herkimer County CC.

Darling made it 2-0 with 5:31 left in the game to help the Rams earn a berth into next weekend's state semifinals in Middletown.

Kade Ozog just missed putting Poland ahead in the 25th minute, his diving header clanging off the post. SK regained the momentum for the next few minutes, then broke through as Anderson turned Darling's short pass into a goal from 10 yards for the first-half lead.

Logan Kaufman set up Darling’s insurance goal, a hard shot from 25 yards that caromed in off the crossbar.

South Kortright will face Section 9's Mount Academy in a semifinal at 11 a.m. next Saturday on Middletown's Turf Field. The winner plays for the state title at 1 p.m. Sunday on Middletown's Grass Field.